Description
In a land of fire and ice, love is considered a weakness.
Princess Valkyrja has always been deemed “pretty and useless” by her family, who rule the kingdom of Fjordlandi. Though she has the same magical Blessing over ice and snow as her brother, sister, and father, she can never seem to use it for the brute-force ruling they require, choosing instead to make art that makes her people smile. But when a horrific attack shakes their whole world, she has to step up…and find a strength she didn’t know she had.
Nikanor has lived his life under the greenhouse domes, a commoner with no opportunities to do things he most desires—to study the Words or the law, to be something other than a farmer. When he and his best friend follow his father to the capital, he hopes only for a nice holiday. Instead, the attack throws him into the path of a princess, and his world is never the same.
But the Blessed aren’t the only ones with magic in Fjordlandi. There are others already Awakened in the volcano, those called the Cursed, with lava in their veins and rebellion in their hearts. And once the fires of revolution ignite, they won’t stop until all of Fjordlandi is Aflame.
mindyhoung –
“It was the Giver’s gift, which he gave according to the rules he’d designed, whether the recipient would use it well or not. Choice, always left to his creation. But his promise never faltered.”
I am stunned. This is one of my favorite books of 2026. I was blown away by Awakened and how complete and real the worlds of Daryatla and the Sunken Kingdom felt. This new world Fjorlandi is just as incredible and vastly different. Power struggle between fire and ice, the enslaved commoners and aristocratic Blessed, justice and greed blankets that island and has it in a chokehold that requires a new generation to break free. I loved Kyrja; her journey from a fun, fanciful yet wounded princess to a steadfast, powerful, grounded and merciful queen was incredibly satisfying, as was her faith journey in the midst of her realizing her purpose and power. Her compassion for her people remained strong throughout the story and her tender heart was so lovable. Nik was quite the hero. His faithfulness to the Giver, in all circumstances, was admirable. His patient and tender love for Kyrja was indeed swoon-worthy. There were plenty of jaw-dropping plot twists in an already fast-paced plot which had me scrambling to read ‘just one more chapter’. I can’t wait to read Amazed and be introduced to the world of Ellas and hopefully catch up with Daemon and Perla there.
If you enjoy romantic fantasy, you do not want to miss this book. If you’re a Roseanna M White fan but not sure about switching from historical fiction to romantic fantasy, you need to pick up this series now; you will not regret it (and will thank me for the recommendation).
I received a complimentary copy courtesy of WhiteCrown Publishing and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.
candideweekes –
Aflame by Roseanna M. White was an amazing read !
I had read the first book in this series (Awakened) before and this second book was a great addition to the series. I really enjoyed reading this book, it was so nice to find myself again in that world and read again about the characters from the first book but also discovering new ones.
— I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publishers. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone. —
mgtnelson –
This is the second book in Roseanna White’s romantasy (romantic fantasy) series, following Awakened. Another “continent” is featured in this one, Fjordlandi – a land of ice and volcanoes, as well as different special giftings (“magic”) dealing with snow and lava.
There are lots of new characters to get acquainted with, some loveable, and some not. Among them are those who are driven by pride and a desire for power, others seeking for adventure and excitement, some who feel left out, overlooked and useless, people who want to follow their dreams (which seem impossible), those seeking their Creator, and others denying His existence.
I was sucked into the story right away, and at every plot twist, I wondered how in the world White was going to get the good characters out of that particular trouble caused by the bad characters! It was a very satisfying read, and I’m sad to leave behind the place and the characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
mackenzieharting –
5 stars!! I loved this sequel in this romantasy series by Roseanna! It was fast paced from the start. The characters were relatable. I loved Dae and Perla’s banter! I also love how faith is woven into the storyline in a natural way. I especially loved this passage:
“It was the Giver’s gift, which he gave according to the rules he’d designed, whether the recipient would use it well or not. Choice, always left to his creation. But his promise never faltered. He didn’t recall it just because they betrayed his purpose, treated each other so poorly. He still gave. He still provided the reconciliation. He still waited for them to hold out their hands, open their hearts, and ask him to fill their empty places.”
I can’t wait for the next book!!
I received a complimentary e-book for an honest review and wasn’t required to leave a positive one. All thoughts are my own.
Kathryn Bochman –
When I first approached Roseanna White’s new fantasy series in Awakened, I was dubious, but pleasantly surprised with how great it was. Yet now that I’ve finished the second book in the series, Aflame, I am even more in awe. This book was OUTSTANDING. I loved practically everything about it – the colorful characters, the depth of emotion, the complexity of the plot, and the continuation of the story begun in Awakened. Each piece of this plot was woven together so perfectly, I could not help but be engulfed in this imagined world before me.
I cannot wait for the third installment. I know I can count on Roseanna White to deliver an amazing story regardless of the genre.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
akarcread (verified owner) –
I love this series so much! I squeel with joy as I happily pre-order every book and short story ebook! These books do need to be read in order.
The way Roseanna White is writting a fantasy world that is including all these diffrent cultural influences is unreal! Shifting from Islands to Nordic seems like it would be hard to connect togther but it is just seamless. At first I was a little bummed at the almost entirely new cast of characters, but that did not last long. This series is feeling like a exploration of a entire world, not just one character or one area. We are getting a big world! And a big view of it!
It is a little hard to talk about this book without giving away to much. Unlike Awakened, the romance is more low key in Aflame, more on the sweet side than the passion side. Except for Perla, she was one of my favorite parts of this book! Her character really elevated the story from the moment she sashayed into it. From the continued world building, to the characters, everything about this book is just a delight that will draw you right in and not let you go.
I can not wait for the next book! I am completely hooked on this series and I do not know what I will do with my life when it is done. I must say I REALLY REALLY wish the next short story was a entire book! I need more than these snippets of Perla, I love her character so much!
I recived a copy of the book from the publisher (but I bought my own copy as well!). All opinions, as always, are my own.
lanabobana –
Another amazing journey to this new world Roseanna White has skillfully brought to life. This new story moves the reader to a new land and people group, known for their control of ice and snow. With Iceland inspired beauty and detail, Fjordlandi springs to life off the pages that contain this wonderful setting. The reader can easily hear the voices of each character as they share this story. The depth they are written with pulls the reader into the book, caring and worrying the same as for a close friend, Each new success, struggle, or set back weaves into a story that doesn’t let go until well after the book is done.
I love how faith is so deeply woven into each element of the story that it is the base everything is built on. Just as the characters learn and live through this part of their lives. I also love the royal point of view shared by Princess Valkyrja. Not flashy but based on service and care. With great banter, danger, twists and unexpected turns during the story, and a slow burn romance I loved every piece of this book. The fantasy aspect helps take this amazing book a step farther.
Roseanna White has outdone herself with this new book. I am so excited for book 3 in this series! The wait is going to be hard! Grab this book now and settle in for an amazing journey. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Talita Adendorff –
I can’t believe the Awakened series is a completely new genre for this talented writer. It is written absolutely brilliantly.
Aflame is the second full novel in the Awakened series, and even though it plays off several years after Awakened and in a different country, we do still hear about the much-loved King Seidon, Arden, and their family from Awakened.
Aflame has some new royals, with new powers, and lots of intrigue. There are several twists that I did not see coming, and I enjoyed the book thoroughly; in fact, I struggled to put it down.
Come and follow the journey of Princess Valkyrja and Nikanor of Fjordlandi, and see how they grow in their purpose and love. I also enjoyed getting to know Princess Perla better and would love to see her have her own novella.
If you love a clean fantasy with some spiritual depth, humorous moments, interesting characters, and even some action, then I would highly recommend Aflame. I also recommend reading Awakened before Aflame, although both can be read as standalone novels.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book, but the views and opinions are my own.
melmo2610 –
While Fantasy is not my normal genre, I am making it a point to read Roseanna’s series because I love her other books and her writing style. This read was super fun and Roseanna has created a very interesting world and great parallels to our world. The story is exciting with intrigue, mystery, humor, betrayal and a great ending. This is a wonderful series!
cbabler27 –
One of my favorite things to do after reading a new book that I thoroughly enjoyed is going back and re-reading some of my favorite parts. Once I finished Aflame by Roseanna M. White I started flipping back to my favorite scenes, quickly realizing that I was going to basically re-read the entire book. Aflame exceeded my expectations, leaving me anxious for the continued story in the upcoming third book in the Awakened series…..which is soon to be announced! I already cannot wait! If you are looking for a wholesome and richly written story with an excellent plot and deep character arcs, then pick up your copy of Aflame and enjoy!
For fans of Ms. White it is no surprise that Aflame brings readers an adventurous tale filled with excellent themes and life lessons. The new magic of fire and ice is explored in this book with many surprises and plot twists. I enjoyed the extremes and the differing ways each character’s qualities and struggles were expressed with their specific gifts. Aflame brings readers thoughtful themes of choosing integrity and truth over family loyalty, rekindled faith and forgiveness, as well as how godly and strong leaders live. I appreciate how Ms. White creates a rich world full of history, well-developed characters, languages and cultures along with a deep storyline
Princess Valkyrja captured my heart with her genuineness, humility, and desire to have a true family and to be truly loved, not just used for her abilities. Reading through Valkyrja’s griefs, doubts, and learning curves reminded me that a talented author can use fictional works to teach, encourage, and challenge her readers, leaving impacts beyond just an entertaining thought. I loved the intricate play of the ideological and practical struggle to overcome past injustices and create a more free and fair society in the kingdom of Fjordlandi. Ms. White uses this fantasy setting to explore basic human issues like fair treatment of citizens, civic issues of representation, and just punishment and legal proceedings. I appreciated how Ms. White didn’t slide past the difficult parts, but made it into part of the story.
I particularly noticed the emphasis in this book on the Giver of the gifts, instead of each character’s strengths and weaknesses. Each character wielding other-worldly magic was brought to realize that their gifts weren’t of their own power, but all originating from their Creator. I appreciated the consistent theme of God and seeking His guidance, wisdom, and deliverance through prayer. Aflame was a very intriguing, entertaining, thoughtful, and extremely well-written book that will have to be kept in my top books for 2026. I highly recommend Aflame and sincerely hope that you take the opportunity to pick up a copy for yourself and dive into this wonderful adventure! Happy readings!
Disclaimer: White Crown Publishing graciously provided me with a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and part of an unbiased review.
Connie –
I’m a long-time reader of her historical fiction, but Roseanna M. White’s venture into fantasy has introduced me to a new genre. I don’t normally read fantasy, but I’ve been converted!
I loved meeting the characters who possess unique powers in the mythical kingdom of Fjordlandi, but two were especially endearing. Sweet and gentle Princess Kyrja chose to use her power for good. When Fjordlandi was attacked, it was the commoner Nikanor who proved that class has no bearing on being honorable!
I admit that the twists, turns, and fantastical action were at first confusing, but the emotions weren’t. Princess Valkyrja’s low self-esteem and her longing for her father’s approval were normal reactions of a rejected daughter. And then, there’s the romance! The strong feelings between Kyrja and Nikanor once again proved White’s ability to write romance that is clean but oh, so breathtaking! Aflame has the tagline romantasy and this is exactly what it is!
This is the second book in a series, but I wasn’t distracted because I hadn’t read the first. Aflame has introduced me to a world of fantasy while remaining true to White’s inspirational fiction. I look forward to reading the next books in this Awakened series!
I received a complimentary copy courtesy of WhiteCrown Publishing and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.